Direct flights from Canberra (to anywhere you like) finally arrive!

Posted on 11 August, 2014

I’ve been lucky enough to fly to some amazing places around the world…but never have I had the opportunity to take a direct flight from Canberra to New York City and then over to Washington. And, what’s more, I’ve never flown a plane…I mean, that’s something for pilots, right?

Well, thanks to Jet Flight Simulator Canberra, I got to be the pilot of a Boeing 737, which I somehow managed to fly from Canberra direct to New York and over to Washington in just half an hour.

Upon my arrival to HQ in Fyshwick, I was blown away with the set up – the simulator looks and feels like you’ve actually stepped into a real cockpit! With more controls and gadgets than I knew what to do with, I felt like a real life James Bond. And with an enormous graphics screen driven by three high definition projectors it only took about five minutes to forget I was actually in a simulator.

After an introduction and some instructions from my co–pilot, it was time to takeoff. Luckily, I had no passengers on board because I must admit I had the plane swerving all over the runway.

I departed Canberra on a glorious winters day with my co-pilot. We decided that New York City sounded like the perfect destination. After all, who wouldn’t want to jet over to Manhattan at this time of year?  And, after a quick stop over in New York, we decided a short flight to Washington was required.

Having lots of experience as a passenger of a plane, I can now appreciate the skill you need to actually fly an aircraft – and unlike video games (which I’ve played plenty of in my time) it’s much harder, more realistic and very intense.

Once we got into the air, it was an incredibly surreal experience. The simulator is capable of flying at an altitude of 37,000 feet and up to 310 miles per hour. Once my co–pilot helped me get off the ground (instead of swerving around the run way like a lunatic), I got a great appreciation for the concentration required to actually fly a plane. There are various controls and displays, which guide you through the journey and navigate you to your desired destination.

And after learning how to handle and control the gadgets, I was brought down to earth (literally) when I was told I needed to begin my descent into Washington, reaching as low as 3,000 feet. You would have thought that after such an awful take off, my landing would have been much better. Luckily again, this was just a flight simulation, otherwise I’m afraid the nose and left wing of the plane suffered irreparable damage.

The flight simulation experience was a great ride (pardon the pun) and unlike anything I have ever experienced before – not only is it a fantastic feeling but a whole lot of fun.

I wouldn’t recommend anyone flying with me anytime soon, I think I will stick to my day job, but I would recommend the Jet Flight Simulator at Fyshwick. Not only would it be great to add to the list of life experiences, it would make an unreal Father’s Day or Christmas present for those needing a few ideas.

The essentials

What: Jet Flight Simulator Canberra
Where: Unit 5, 4 Ipswich Street Fyshwick
How much: Father’s Day special prices range from $69 for 30 mins to $199 for 120 minutes
Book: Online at www.jetflightsimulatorcanberra.com.au/fathers-day-sale
Web: www.jetflightsimulatorcanberra.com.au

This is a sponsored post